Sister Donna Marie Woodson, OSF, of the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis died on Dec. 18, 2016 at HSHS St. John’s Hospital in Springfield. She was 82 years old.

Sister Donna Marie, the former Marie Evelyn Woodson, was born in Omaha, Neb., on July 10, 1934, the daughter of Cleo Eugene and Josephine Mary Hoban Woodson. She entered the congregation on Feb. 11, 1960 and professed her religious vows on Sept. 8, 1962.

Sister Donna Marie received a bachelor’s of science in physical therapy from St. Louis University in June of 1957 and a master’s in Franciscan studies from Bonaventure University in 1980. She ministered as a physical therapist in HSHS hospitals in Illinois and Wisconsin. In 1983, she traveled to India to assist the Indian Sisters of the Congregation as an English teacher and was one of the founding Sisters of the Assisi Bhawan Health Center in Bihar, India where she ministered as a physical therapist. Later in her life, Sister Donna Marie served in parish ministry in Jacksonville and Beardstown. In 2009, she joined the motherhouse community in Springfield.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a brother, Richard Woodson; and two sisters, Gene Ann Johnson and Charlotte Stevenson.

She is survived by a sister, Jessie Chesser; nieces and nephews; and great-nieces and great-nephews.

A visitation and wake service will be held at the St. Francis Convent from 4-7 p.m. with a wake service at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 28.

The Eucharistic Celebration and Rite of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Father Andre Schludecker, OFM, on Thursday, Dec. 29 at 10 a.m. in St. Clare of Assisi Adoration Chapel at St. Francis Convent. Burial will be in Crucifixion Hill Cemetery.

The Franciscan Sisters and the family of Sister Donna Marie Woodson, OSF, are being served by Kirlin-Egan & Butler Funeral Home in Springfield.